Over a thousand votes were lodged as part of the poll, where eleven cars fronted up to represent last year’s hottest releases and MOTOR’s 2016 Performance Car of the Year field.

Online readers were encouraged pick their favourite, or what they reckoned would snaffle the coveted PCOTY trophy, as part of the People’s Choice poll.

Porsche’s 911 GT3 claimed second place, coming within 100 votes of top spot, followed by the Ford Falcon XR8 and Mazda MX-5 in third and fourth place respectively.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG’s GT S and Renault Sport’s Megane RS275 Trophy R wrestled for middle place honours, the French proving only a little less popular than the hulking new supercar.

But in the end it was the Commodore’s game. The LS3-engine sports sedan’s 336 votes commanded a crushing 30 per cent share of the votes, crowning it as the People’s Choice performance car.

Do MOTOR’s judges agree? Check back on motormag.com.au tonight for a live update from the Australian Motoring Awards to find out which of the 11 enamoured judges enough to be crowned PCOTY 2016’s champion.